Otter Creek Township, Ripley County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County and Ripley County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ripley County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
20 of 320 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ripley County compares with Indiana
Ripley County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ripley County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ripley County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 94.0 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.6 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.0% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 34% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.6% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 19% below the state |
Ripley County sits below Indiana on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Ripley County: 1 in 16 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 6.3%, vs 2.4% in Indiana.
Overview
Since 2015, 320 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Ripley County. They injured 114 people and killed 15.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 13 days.
Otter Creek Township, Ripley County had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Ripley County numbers.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 12.5% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (6.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 8.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 7.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-421 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come SR-129 (2), SR-350 (1) and Us- 421 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 20 of the truck crashes here, or 6.2%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (20%).
Route planning tips for Otter Creek Township, Ripley County fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-421; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in November; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 26.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Indiana.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Ripley County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 3 |
| SR-129 | 2 |
| SR-350 | 1 |
| Us- 421 | 1 |
| Us- 50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ripley County) |
|---|---|
| I-74 | 44 |
| US-50 | 32 |
| US-421 | 20 |
| US-50W | 19 |
| US-421N | 12 |
| US-50E | 10 |
| US-421S | 9 |
| I-74W | 9 |
Otter Creek Township, Ripley County at a glance
| Population | 1,360 |
| Land area | 41.7 sq mi |
| Density | 33 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 47023) | $68,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 47023) | $256,339 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ripley County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 19 | +88% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 26 | +34% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 25 | -3% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 10 to 25. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Otter Creek Township, Ripley County
How many truck crashes happen in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County?
Ripley County has had 320 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 114 people and killing 15.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County?
US-421 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Otter Creek since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County?
The worst month is February: 12.5% of truck crashes in Ripley County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County?
Since 2015, Ripley County has reported 20 garbage-truck crashes, or 6.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 94.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ripley County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.